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Transformers Masterpiece discussion thread

A few months ago I decided I was done with Transformers. I was a Classics collector but when that line kept being bumped for the movie line I decided I was done with Transformers.

I still keep an eye on the news and so far I was able to resist any temptations and then I saw this;

Soundwave w/ Lazerbeak

^ in the background is Buzzsaw, MP Ravage and a new MP Frenzy/Rumble mold. The cassete tapes even come with a case.

Sideswipe

Red Alert

I have already preordered all 3.

I have a couple of Masterpiece Trasnformers already, Grimlock, Starscream and Skywarp and as good as they are the look of the new ones is simply astounding. I will now certainly be picking up the MP-10 Optimus Prime when it gets released here in October.

Yeah, these are very nice. I think the efforts of a lot of the third party manufacturers are forcing TakaraTomy to step up their game. I'm not a huge Transformers fan but I really enjoy some of the designs and I think I'm going to try to collect Soundwave and his cassettes.

I'm looking forward to the Hasbro MP-10 release. I hope Shockwave and Wheeljack are next!

Soundwave is probably -the- most requested Transformer to get the MP treatment, and from the shots it does not look like he will let anyone down. The fact that there may be an "upgrade pack" with Ravage and Frenzy/Rumble only makes it all the sweeter. Since Takara want to make sure they have opportunities to release new versions of all the (extremely expensive) Masterpiece molds, apparently Sunstreaker will also happen as a slight retool of the Sideswipe one. So along with the already previewed Red Alert, that's at least three reuses. I can only think of one obvious repaint for the Soundwave, though, that being the obvious Soundblaster version.

God the TF figures look so nice.... I [REALLY] wished that I could afford to collect the Masterpiece TransFormers as well as the MOTUC line.
But due to financial living situation atm... I will finish the MOTUC line first.. then [if possible] try to snag a few of these if the price isn't "insanely" high by then.

I have all of the Masterpiece figures so far and though I am not extremely happy with the new scale I understand why they did it. I'm looking at these pics and drooling. The pics of the cassettes really impress me. My money is already spent.

A journey that began long ago in a place neither near nor far…
A story of heroes, passed down through the ages…
Until now.
This is our story. These are our heroes…

Soundwave has enough room in his chest cavity to fit 3 cassettes. There is a mechanism that pushes the next cassette forward when the first one is "ejected". The unofficial report is that Ravage, Buzzsaw, Frenzy and Rumble will be sold seperately which is very similar to the vintage release.

The Ninth Level of Hell plotting my slow and painful revenge on the brightly sunlit world...

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Originally Posted by TheFallen

A few months ago I decided I was done with Transformers. I was a Classics collector but when that line kept being bumped for the movie line I decided I was done with Transformers.

Done with Transformers?! Big F...you disappoint me. Classics is good but MP is the cream of the crop. There is no toyline now that can boast that attention to detail and still allow transformations that look so much like their alternate and robot forms. They had a misstep in Rodimus Prime but everything else has been superb. Personally, I have them all (except Sunstorm which I have yet to pull the trigger on due to space and his extremely limited show appearance) but I even got white Optimus Prime (Ultra Magnus) in the hopes that they would release and Ultra Magnus armor set later for it (which to my knowledge they haven't yet).

But yeah, I've already pre-ordered my Soundwave, Sideswipe and Red Alert MP figures. To me, Soundwave is the second most iconic Decepticon there is and I'm not going to miss him.

Last edited by Benedict Judas Hel; June 18, 2012 at 08:43am.

"Wheresoever on earth he dwells, man is prey to two weaknesses: the need to pray and the need to love."-Marquis de Sade

"It is not by reasoning or by our understanding that we have received our religion; it is by external authority and command."-Michel De Montaigne

Done with Transformers?! Big F...you disappoint me. Classics is good but MP is the cream of the crop. There is no toyline now that can boast that attention to detail and allow still alllow transformations that look so much like their alternate and robot forms. They had a misstep in Rodimus Prime but everything else has been superb. Personally, I have them all (except Sunstorm which I have yet to pull the trigger on due to space and his extremely limited show appearance) but I even got white Optimus Ptime (Ultra Magnus) in the hopes that they would release and Ultra Magnus armor set later for it (which to my knowledge they haven't yet).

But yeah, I've already pre-ordered my Soundwave, Sideswipe and Red Alert MP figures. To me, Soundwave is the second most iconic Decepticon there is and I'm not going to miss him.

I notice you didn't mention the Movie toys, BJH

As I said above, I am a bit of a stickler for scale. I know that scale in Trasnformers is all over the place but the difference in scale between MP-01-05 and MP-08 was too much for me to get excited about. As I have been finding out, TakaraTomy did a kind of "soft reboot" starting with MP-10 and everything is now in closer scale, which can be seen with Sideswipe and Soundwave.

I already have Masterpiece Starscream, Skywarp and Grimlock so they fit with MP-10 already. If what I have heard is true, MP Thundercracker is getting released by Hasbro as well as MP-10 before the end of the year. That means I will have to drop the $400 on the iGear Coneheads so I can have the Seekers. I guess I will have to pick up Sunstorm as well.

If TakaraTomy are going to be doing characters like Soundwave and Sideswipe/Red Alert then that gives me hope they might work their way through the 84-86 line up. That is worth getting excited about for and old Geewunner like myself.

If TakaraTomy are going to be doing characters like Soundwave and Sideswipe/Red Alert then that gives me hope they might work their way through the 84-86 line up. That is worth getting excited about for and old Geewunner like myself.

The sales on MP Sideswipe will most likely determine how this goes. Up until this the MP line has stuck to the iconic characters of the franchise (and indeed, Soundwave is another one to that mix), but in adding an obscure character like Sideswipe in the form of what amounts to an extremely expensive Deluxe the faith of the buyers will be tested. Then tested again with the Red Alert retool. And then again with the Sunstreaker retool. Should these sell sufficiently well we may just see more Autobot cars in the future, and if not there's always a few more iconic characters left to do (Bumblebee and Shockwave spring to mind).

The sales on MP Sideswipe will most likely determine how this goes. Up until this the MP line has stuck to the iconic characters of the franchise (and indeed, Soundwave is another one to that mix), but in adding an obscure character like Sideswipe in the form of what amounts to an extremely expensive Deluxe the faith of the buyers will be tested. Then tested again with the Red Alert retool. And then again with the Sunstreaker retool. Should these sell sufficiently well we may just see more Autobot cars in the future, and if not there's always a few more iconic characters left to do (Bumblebee and Shockwave spring to mind).

The one thing I have noticed with Transformers fans is how deep their pockets are. As an import, the price on Sideswipe/Red Alert isn't that bad. If Hasbro decided to release them then I am sure they would be much cheaper.

If Transformers fans are willing to pay 3rd party makers $50-$100 for scout-deluxe sized Transformers (FansProject Swindle/Blastoff at $50 and TFC Hercules components at $90 each) then I can certainly seem them paying the asking price for the cars. Especially if said cars look exactly like their original alt modes and a vastly superior robot mode.

As it looks now, TakaraTomy seem to be testing the waters to make this a "line" which would certainly be collector focused. They have my support.

Originally Posted by MegaGearMax

Are these things fragile? I've heard that Megatron was.

From my experience, they are not as solid as the Classics style figures. The tail wings on my Starscream seem to be very fragile so I try to take care of them. And they are pretty damn big so I guess they can't really be too solid.

As I said above, I am a bit of a stickler for scale. I know that scale in Trasnformers is all over the place but the difference in scale between MP-01-05 and MP-08 was too much for me to get excited about.

Well, MP scale is not anymore out of scale than the original line but I can respect your stand. At $80-$100+ for MP Transformers, I can understand any hesitancy at buying them.

Originally Posted by MegaGearMax

Are these things fragile? I've heard that Megatron was.

Hmmm...I don't know. I don't really touch mine after transforming them and applying the stickers (on the seekers). I know I had a deuce of a time trying to get the orange safety plug out of Megatron's barrel when I first got him. But he withstood it.

"Wheresoever on earth he dwells, man is prey to two weaknesses: the need to pray and the need to love."-Marquis de Sade

"It is not by reasoning or by our understanding that we have received our religion; it is by external authority and command."-Michel De Montaigne

The one thing I have noticed with Transformers fans is how deep their pockets are. As an import, the price on Sideswipe/Red Alert isn't that bad. If Hasbro decided to release them then I am sure they would be much cheaper.

Oh, no argument there, the question is just if there will be enough widespread interest. One of the big advantages of the masterpiece line is that while each figure is prohibitively expensive, they only trickle out one-two per year. That makes the collecting of it actually cheaper than collecting say, MOTUC. And I'm sure that Soundwave at least will get a Hasbro release, the only one so far that didn't was Megatron (due to US gun laws).

Max: It varies from mold to mold. MP Megatron is fragile, as is MP Rodimus. MP-01 (the first Optimus) is a brick, though.

I would love to get one of these, but I keep missing them. MP Prime keeps coming out at times when I can't afford him (Grimlock did too) and MP Starscream in classic colors was never to be found. I looked, but never caught him. I'm thinking of sticking some money aside for the next MP Prime release (doesn't he come with the trailer?) so I can get him this time.

As for Soundwave: I would REALLY like that one. I'll still wait for a US release, but I'd like to keep track of 'em and make sure I can afford it. Only thing better would be a Shockwave.

Originally Posted by Sandman

It varies from mold to mold. MP Megatron is fragile, as is MP Rodimus. MP-01 (the first Optimus) is a brick, though.

It's CRAZY, but you're right! You could replace the candlestick in Clue with MP Prime and Mr. Body would be just as dead.

"Since you got here by not thinking, it seems reasonable to expect that, in order to get out, you must start thinking." ~ Tock, the Watchdog

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I love most of these. I only have the hasbro prime though. they usu cost too much for me to justify getting as I'm not HUGE on transformers, but man this soundwave (my favourite looking transformer prior to jetfire) is fantastic.